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Herman Headed to Sochi

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USSA

2014-01-18 14:18

Dara Howell of Canada took third, Julia Krass first and Keri Herman second at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix Saturday at Park City, where Herman clinched her spot on the first-ever U.S. Olympic team for slopestyle skiing. (Getty Images/Gene Sweeney Jr.)

PARK CITY, UT (Jan. 18) – Keri Herman (Bloomington, MN) clinched her spot on the first-ever U.S. Olympic team for slopestyle skiing with her second-place finish Saturday morning at the fifth and final Olympic qualifier at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix. Julia Krass (Hanover, NH) took the win on the Kings Crown slopestyle course while Canadian Dara Howell slipped into third. The men take to the course Saturday afternoon for the final battle for Sochi spots. Official team nominations will be announced Saturday night after the final halfpipe qualifier, which can be streamed live at usfreeskiing.com at 6:30 p.m. EST.

HIGHLIGHTS

Keri Herman (Bloomington, MN) clinched her spot on the first-ever U.S. Olympic team for slopestyle skiing with her second-place finish Saturday morning at the fifth and final Olympic qualifier at the Visa U.S. Freeskiing Grand Prix.

Julia Krass (Hanover, NH) took the win on the Kings Crown slopestyle course while Canadian Dara Howell slipped into third.

Devin Logan (West Dover, VT) clinched her Olympic team spot at the fourth qualifier on Friday. Logan and Herman were the only women to secure their Sochi spot during the five-event qualification series.

The first-ever U.S. Olympic team for slopestyle and halfpipe skiing will be officially nominated during a ceremony Saturday night after the final halfpipe qualifier, which can be streamed live at usfreeskiing.com at 6:30 p.m. EST. See below for the women’s top-five qualification standings.

In addition to Olympic qualification, athletes have been competing for a total of $500,000 in cash prizes throughout the Sprint U.S. Grand Prix tour, including a bonus $2,500 award for the overall tour winner in women’s slopestyle skiing.

Krass’s winning run: Disaster on the down-flat-down rail, frontside 450 out of the flat rail, blind 450 out of the cannon, switch 540 mute, leftside cork 720, rightside cork 900 tail and then switch 180 to 270 out of down rail.

Herman’s second-place run: Disaster on down-flat-down rail, blind 270 out of cannon, frontside 450 out of second cannon, rightside 720 tail, leftside 540 high safety, switch rightside 720 safety and 270 out of down rail.

The men take to the course Saturday afternoon for the final battle for Sochi spots.

QUOTESJulia KrassI'm really stoked, and I guess I wasn't really expecting it. I put down the run I wanted and ended up how I wanted it to end up.

After training, I thought winning could be a possibility because I was training really well. Then after yesterday with third place for the U.S., I realized that I could actually do it. So, coming off a first place today, I'm really happy.

Keri HermanI just want to be able to ski the best I can ski, and if I do my personal best, no matter where I end up, I’m going to be happy.

I’m just trying to stay focused on myself and how I can be the best person I can be in skiing and in everything. I’ve been doing that so I’m feeling pretty mentally stable. Physically I’m feeling good. I’ve got a few issues I’m working on, but no pain no gain.